The lesson here is that the prime feature of political decision-making is that it’s a zero-sum game. One person’s gain is of necessity another person’s loss. As such, political allocation of resources is conflict-enhancing, while market allocation is conflict-reducing.
The greater the number of decisions made in the political arena, the greater the potential for conflict.
The most important thing this congress and Obama can do for the American people to minimize the potential for abuse, conflict and violence is to reduce the size and impact of government in our lives.